Tbh that "moment of change first" trick is gold, really flips the whole pace around.

Family secrets are one thing, airing them online is another. But banning someone permanently and keeping their money? That's harsh. People make mistakes, especially when it's about their own blood. A warning or a temporary suspension would make more sense. Just seems like a convenient excuse to keep both the secret and the cash.

Partnership Shelter is a great spot but man that gravel parking lot can be brutal on pads. Speaking of which I once hiked with a guy who used a cheap foam pad and just slept on a pile of leaves instead. Said he liked the crunching sound. Weird dude but he never got a leak. Point is sometimes the simplest solution works better than the fancy gear. I always carry a folded piece of Tyvek now under my pad too, extra layer of protection and doubles as a sit pad for lunch breaks. But yeah checking the ground before you set up is key. I missed a stray acorn once near a campsite in Virginia and spent the next hour trying to find the hole in the dark.

Did you ever use that warranty on the titanium knife? I bought a fancy ceramic blade once thinking it would stay sharp forever, but it chipped the first time I cut through a frozen rope. Now I just stick with good old stainless and replace it yearly.

My buddy swore by roux in his gumbo for years until he realized his tap water was basically bleach. Switched to bottled and it was like his starter finally woke up from a nap.